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Top 10 Kitten Care Tips According to a Veterinarian
Dr. Sarah Wooten, DVM walks through her top 10 tips for caring for a new kitten — from nutrition and litter training to socialization and vet visits. Below the video you will find a full breakdown of every tip with timestamps so you can jump to what matters most to you.
This is an educational summary of a public video. Always consult your own vet for advice specific to your cat.SW
Dr. Sarah Wooten, DVM, CVJ
Video by Cats.com on YouTube | Watch on YouTube
What Dr. Wooten covers in this video
1
Proper Nutrition
Starts at 0:22
Nutrition comes down to how much, how often, and what you feed. Kittens under 4 months should be allowed to free-feed because they cannot regulate their blood sugar well. Always use food formulated specifically for kittens with at least 30% protein and look for the AAFCO statement on the bag saying it is for “growth and lactation.”
- Under 2 weeks: feed every 2 hours
- 2 to 4 weeks: feed every 3 to 4 hours
- 4 to 8 weeks: feed every 5 to 7 hours
- Older kittens: at least 3 meals a day
2
Start Nail Trimming Early
Starts at 2:29
Start trimming nails as soon as possible. Waiting until they are adults makes the process much harder and more stressful for everyone. Ask your vet team for a hands-on demonstration if you are unsure how to do it safely.
3
Provide Scratching Opportunities
Starts at 3:22
Scratching is a natural, healthy behavior. It gives cats mental stimulation and stretches the muscles in their back and paws. Declawing is an amputation and is inhumane. Instead, provide both horizontal and vertical scratching surfaces made of cardboard or sisal rope.
4
Patient Litter Box Training
Starts at 5:35
Start by keeping your kitten in a small room with easy-to-clean floors until they understand how to use the box. Clean the litter box every single day. Never scold a kitten for accidents. Slowly introduce them to larger areas of the house once they are consistent.
5
Cat-Proof the Home
Starts at 6:49
Before bringing a kitten home, get down on all fours and see your home from their eye level. Remove or secure anything dangerous they might chew or swallow including yarn, string, hair ties, electrical cords, medications, and toxic houseplants.
6
Introduce Other Animals Gradually
Starts at 7:53
Forcing animals to meet straight away causes stress and conflict. Keep the new kitten in their own room for about a week so other pets can sniff under the door. Progress to seeing each other through a baby gate, then supervised visits. Always let them meet on their own terms and provide an escape route.
7
Use the Critical Socialization Window
Starts at 9:06
Between 7 weeks and 13 to 14 weeks of age, a kitten’s brain decides what is safe and what is scary. This window does not come back. Introduce your kitten to different people, surfaces, sounds, and vaccinated animals during this time. Dr. Wooten recommends the “Rule of 7” — seven safe, positive, new experiences every single day.
8
Harness and Leash Training
Starts at 10:35
The outdoors is full of risks for cats including cars, dogs, and disease. Training a cat to walk on a harness and leash gives them fresh air and stimulation safely. Starting in kittenhood means they grow up treating it as completely normal.
9
Do Not Skip Vet Visits
Starts at 11:35
Kittens need multiple vet visits to track growth, get essential vaccines (rabies, leukemia, calicivirus), and be checked for hidden parasites like hookworms and roundworms. These visits are also a good time to ask your vet team any questions you have.
10
Look Into Pet Health Insurance
Starts at 12:47
Many life-saving procedures are declined because owners cannot afford them. Getting a pet insurance plan while your cat is still a kitten means you are covered for emergencies and illness later on. Some plans also cover routine care, vaccines, and dental work.
All content above is a summary of Dr. Sarah Wooten’s public video on the Cats.com YouTube channel. We do not own this video. Full credit to Dr. Wooten and Cats.com.